order of religious teachers is to continue in the church to the end of the world. Eph.. iv. 11, 13.

All ministers must now appear in one or other of these characters. If they come as ordinary teachers, they are to exhibit the ordinary evidence of having been regularly approbated to their work, and of their good standing in the church. If they come as extraordinary ministers, pretending to be supernaturally called to, and endued for their work, and hence claiming authority to go every where preaching the word, let them produce the great, divine seal of their high commission by incontestible miracles: Otherwise we are not to receive them, nor bid them, God speed.

It may be asked, What if a minister regularly ordained, should afterwards become grossly heretical, negligent, or immoral? Is he not to be called a false teacher ?-Rather perhaps he is to be called a corrupt, wicked, or slothful servant. His guilt is not a disorderly intrusion into office, but a criminal perversion of, and unfaithfulness in his

office. He is not, however, by any means to be tolerated in his wickedness; but the measures prescribed in the gospel are to be applied for his amendment. In case of contumacy, or incorrigibleness, he is to be rejected by a public sentence of the elders of churches. Until trial and conviction, he is in regular standing, for no man is to be condemned without trial. If in the introduction of ministers, gospel order is observed, as it generally is in our standing churches, there is little danger, that one grossly vicious, or essentially erroneous, will long be retained in office, because he will be subject to trial and censure. But if every man may, at pleasure, assume the ministerial office, and run whither he lists; and people will countenance the assumption, by attending his ministrations, wherever he goes, there can be no security. For who shall displace from office the man who claims an independent right to assume and retain it? He will submit to no judicature; he will spurn every admonition and censure; discarded in one place, he will carry his impositions to ano

ther; and none knows where the mischief will end. Those Christians, who imprudently follow and encourage vagrant, unknown, unrecommended teachers, do their utmost to subvert the discipline of the churches, and to break down the barriers. which the gospel has placed against the irruption of ignorance, errour and vice. Christ's sheep will not follow a stranger; they will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers.

DISCOURSE II.

I PROCEED now to point out to you some other marks of false teachers. On these I shall not have occasion greatly to enlarge.

II. Our Saviour tells us, ' False prophets come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits."

They will make great professions, and perhaps, for a while, exhibit some plausible appearance of humility, peaceableness, meekness, and indifference to the world. They will declare, that they have no party designs, sinister views, or selfish aims; that they are only solicitous to promote your spiritual and eternal interest; while their real intention is to divide, scatter and devour you. You may possibly be deceived at first by their fair pretensions, and be carried away by their dissimulation. But observe them carefully, and you will soon be undeceived. Suppose, they should meet with opposition, or provocation, or be disappointed in their views; then see whether they retain the lamblike gentleness of which they boasted. No: You may now begin. to discern the wolf: Now they betray their pride, passion and resentment: Now they break you into parties, that they may catch some of you. They may appear modest and diffident at first; but suppose, they should find their influence increased by the number of their adherents and followers;

then see whether they are so moderate in their views; whether they are content with small things? No: They will leap into one fold and another for new prey. A good shepherd attends to his own proper charge: The wolf is a rapacious, prowling animal: Not satisfied with taking out of one flock, he roams from flock to flock, and can never have enough.

III. False teachers bring in dangerous heresies privily, unawares, and with cunning craftiness. Eph. iv. 14. 2 Peter ii. 1. Jude iv.

It is not every erroneous doctrine that marks one to be an impostor. In this imperfect state an entire uniformity of sentiment is not to be expected. In those differences of opinion which affect not the essence of religion, candour and forbearance will take place among the virtuous and discerning. Errours, which mar the substance, and defeat the design of the gospel, ought to awaken the concern, and warm the zeal of a Christian. To draw with precision the line, and mark with exactness the bounda